Raiders, Ravens rocket into top 10
NFL power rankings, 2021 post-Week 2 edition (previous rank in parentheses):
1. Buccaneers (1): Evidence already mounting that this could be a historic team. QB Tom Brady is on pace to throw 77 TDs for crew that just became first to string together nine consecutive wins (including playoffs) while scoring at least 30 points in each. (Naturally, Brady was a member of the two teams that used to share that record, the 2007 and ‘10 Patriots.) The Bucs’ overall win streak now stands at 10.
2. Rams (3): However this group, which handled the Bucs in Tampa last season before the eventual Super Bowl champs started their historic run, might have something to say Sunday when they lock horns at SoFi Stadium. Matthew Stafford’s 127.0 QB rating is nearly 40 points above his career average.
3. Chiefs (2): They’re not in first place in the AFC West for the first time in nearly five years ... but let’s not overreact to one untimely Clyde Edwards-Helaire fumble.
4. Browns (4): Very premature to anoint RB Nick Chubb a future Hall of Famer – but he’s doing gold jacket-type things. Chubb is the first Cleveland player since Leroy Kelly (Hall of Fame Class of 1994) to rush for a TD in eight consecutive games and first since Jim Brown (Hall of Fame Class of 1971) to run for at least 50 yards 35 times in his first four seasons.
5. Cardinals (7): Not hard to argue Christian Kirk and rookie Rondale Moore have been their best receivers through two games, so this four-wide package should be devastating once DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Green heat up.
6. Raiders (16): Seems insanely high to rank them. But starting 2-0 against Baltimore and Pittsburgh, 2020 playoff teams, is more impressive than last year’s 2-0 start against Carolina and New Orleans, one that fizzled with an 8-8 finish. Also, Derek Carr seems to be knocking on door of elite QB club .
7. Ravens (18): QB Lamar Jackson has claimed another of Michael Vick’s spots in the record book after hitting triple digits in both passing and rushing yards in a game for the ninth time. And Jackson edited in style while beating The Chiefs for the first time.
8. Steelers (8): Two weeks in and QB Ben Roethlisberger is already referring questions about the offense’s struggles to new coordinator Matt Canada?
9. Bills (10): QB Josh Allen has been decidedly ordinary through two games, but fact that defense and run game have been excellent.
10. Cowboys (9): Never hurts to get a home game coming off a tough defeat and key personnel losses. And now ‘Boys get to play their next three in Jerry World.
11. 49ers (11): Rookie QB Trey Lance went from four snaps in Week 1 to none Sunday. Advantage Jimmy Garoppolo?
12. Titans (19): Didn’t take RB Derrick Henry long to vault back to the top of his customary place on the league rushing charts. He’s currently the only player in the NFL who’s exceeded 200 yards (240) and is on early pace for another 2,000yard season.
13. Seahawks (6): Their early lack of balance is perfectly exemplified by Russell Wilson’s ridiculous NFL-leading QB rating (146.9), and Seattle’s last-place standing in the NFC West.
14. Panthers (23): Hey, Sam Darnold, how does it feel to be 2-0 for the first time since you were at USC?
15. Saints (5): Their dichotomous 1-1 start perfectly reflects QB Jameis Winston’s Jekyll-and-Hyde mirror images.
16. Packers (14): QB Aaron Rodgers and RB Aaron Jones both accounted for four touchdowns as Green Bay gets right on Monday night.
17. Broncos (15): They’ve knocked out two bad teams and face another one (Jets) in Sunday’s home opener.
18. Chargers (13): Penalties (12 on Sunday), turnovers (2), screwy luck, gutwrenching defeats – let’s not expect rookie head coach Brandon Staley to change this organization overnight.
19. Dolphins (12): After getting benched in Las Vegas last year, you know QB Tua Tagovailoa wants to come up aces in Sin City this Sunday.
20. Patriots (17): New England is playing stifling defense – among AFC teams, tied for fewest points allowed (23) and most takeaways (5) – and running the ball effectively to keep Mac Jones in manageable situations.
21. Washington (21): Breaking a fivegame losing streak to the Giants means the WFT will be undefeated in NFC East play for the next 12 weeks.
22. Eagles (22): No team in the NFC is running the ball better, but Philly couldn’t finish Sunday.
23. Bears (26): As predicted, this team doesn’t have a good enough supporting cast to make rookie QB Justin Fields wildly successful at this point.
24. Bengals (20): The last team (before this one) to suffer a loss with QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja’Marr Chase in the lineup? How about the 2018 LSU squad that fell 74-72 to Texas A&M in seven overtimes.
25. Vikings (24): Mike Zimmer called last season’s defense the “worst” he’d ever coached, but this year’s unit is threatening to lower the bar.
26. Colts (25): How about WR Zach Pascal taking advantage of T.Y. Hilton’s absence, snatching an AFC-leading three TD receptions among his nine catches.
27. Giants (30): The QB Daniel Jones, well as he played at Washington, dropped to 0-6 in prime time starts. Worse news? New York has two more Monday night games on the schedule.
28. Texans (27): Bad enough we have to see them on a national stage in Week
3. But now we have to watch third-round rookie QB Davis Mills replace perennially luckless Tyrod Taylor.
29. Lions (29): If they continue coughing up 30+ points per outing, a streak that now extends to eight games, Detroit will continue to consistently get kneecapped.
30. Jets (28): Asked if he was seeing the same ghosts that led also led predecessor Darnold to throw four INTs against the Patriots in 2019, rookie QB Zach Wilson answered Sunday, “No, most definitely not.” But Wilson definitely saw he has a lot to learn.
31. Falcons (31): What does a team that’s already been outscored by 49 points have to look forward to?
32. Jaguars (32): QB Trevor Lawrence and Wilson, the top two picks of the 2021 draft, respectively, will be forever tied together ... though being deadlocked for the league lead with five INTs after two weeks wasn’t what these franchise saviors exactly had in mind.